Mosquito Fogger Basics

Before we get into the review, I thought it'd be useful to break down some of the mosquito fogger basics. We'll review everything you need to know about mosquito foggers so you can make the best buying decision!

What Are Mosquito Foggers?

First, it's important to note that a mosquito fogger is different from a mosquito sprayer.

Although they both spread chemicals to combat mosquito populations, foggers are machines powered by either electricity (cold foggers) or propane (thermal foggers) that spray insecticide into the air as micro sized droplets creating what appears to be a fog.

How Do Mosquito Foggers Work?

Below is a great video on how to use the Burgess fogger (a thermal fogger). I highly recommend you check out this video to give you an idea on how mosquito foggers work.

What Are The Main Type of Mosquito Foggers?

There are cold foggers and thermal foggers. Both types of foggers can be used to control mosquito populations and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.

Mosquito foggers vary significantly in their operation, but for the purposes of this article, I just want to cover them at a high level.

Thermal Mosquito Foggers

Thermal foggers are more suitable for outdoor use because high temperatures used to heat the fogging solution can be a fire hazard indoors. Some thermal foggers are designed for indoor use depending on the model you choose, but a good rule of thumb is to keep thermal foggers for outdoors only.

There are two main types of thermal foggers: electric and gas.

Electric Foggers: Electric foggers work on electricity and must be plugged in to an electric outlet to work.

Gas Foggers: Gas foggers typically use propane for power. One advantages of thermal foggers is that they are much more portable.

Cold Mosquito Foggers

Cold mosquito foggers do not require a heating assembly to operate so the heat generated from the equipment isn’t as much of an issue. Instead, they utilize air pressure to atomize fogging solutions that can get up and running in just a few minutes.

You’ll want to use your fogger near shady areas of your yard, such as under trees, near standing water and in any other dark or damp areas where mosquitoes could rest and hide.

You should not use mosquito foggers near areas with beneficial bugs, such as bees or butterflies, as the insecticide in these products will be harmful to those bugs as well.

How Do Aerosol Can Mosquito Foggers Work?

An aerosol can fogger is a more affordable option than its machine fogger counterparts, however, coverage can be limited.

When using an aerosol can, you’ll be pushing down the fogging trigger and walking around your yard spraying the fog instead of using a separate piece of equipment to deploy the spray. If you have a larger yard, you may need to purchase several cans in order to ensure your entire yard is covered. Aerosol cans cover a 30ft x 30ft area, so this is a great option for small yards.

You’ll want to make sure to avoid spraying any areas that contain edible plants as most aerosol fogger products are not safe for human consumption. If your edible plants are in movable containers or pots, you can move them to another area or indoors temporarily.

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I really couldn't find anything bad about this tool. If I'm nitpicking, I'd say that the only drawback is that you have to heat up the coil with a match or lighter.

As long as you let it warm up for about 2-4 minutes and pull the trigger every 4 seconds (not continuously else you'll be spraying pure liquid) you'll have yourself a tool that will decimate your mosquito population in minutes spurring up large clouds of insect death. Try not to smile too much as the mosquitoes come crashing down in utter defeat.

Pros

No Outlet Needed

Lightweight (2.9 Pounds)

Affordable

Easy To Control The Fog

Durable

Cons

Liquid Storage Tank Is A Bit Oversized

Requires A Match To Light The Heating Coil

Fogmaster﻿ Jr. Handheld Fogger (Cold Fogger)

The Fogmaster Jr. is a cold fogger powered by electricity unlike the Burgess above.

Because it needs electricity, you'll be tethered to the nearest wall outlet, which I don't like when mosquito fogging.

This is a small unit well suited for home use or a small yard. The units blowing distance is approximately 5-10ft. You could probably squeeze a little more distance out of it on a windy day.

The unit is prone to clogging, but a simple rinse with water and soap should put you back in action.

Pros

Quality Rust Proof Construction

Sprays Up To 30-40ft

Great For Indoor Use

1 Gallon Tank Capacity

Cons

Very Loud

Prone To Clogging

Needs To Be Plugged In

Repel 190397 ﻿Mosquito﻿ Fogger (﻿Thermal﻿ Fogger)

The Repel fogger is a more ergonomic and user friendly alternative to the Burgess, made by the same manufacturer, The Fountainhead Group, Inc.

The Repel sports an ergonomic handle for a more comfortable grip while fogging. It also has an igniter button, which makes it easy to preheat before use. In contrast, The Burgess above requires a match or lighter to heat up the coil before use.

The bad about Cutter is that it's limited. In my experience, you'll get about 20 seconds out of each can, which is just enough to fog one large bush. I've also experience instances where the cans don't produce a fog, but instead a steam, which has almost no effect on the mosquitoes.

Pros

Extremely Portable

Kills Immediately On Contact

Cons

You Get About 20 Seconds Out Of Each Can

Sometimes Doesn't Produce A Fog But A Steam

Our Top Pick: Burgess 1443

For an affordable price, you'll get a quality fogger that could potentially last you 30+ years.

At the same time...

we also do recommend you consult with a licenses exterminator before you attempt to deploy any insecticides around your home. This is because certain states and localities have restrictions on what you are and are not allowed to spray into the air.

An exterminator could help answers these specific questions. To make this easy, we've developed a tool to help you get a few free quotes from exterminators in your area. Click here to use it!

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